Education & Learning Vocabulary in Chinese

Enhance your study experience with Education & Learning Vocabulary in Chinese. This set includes essential terms for school, classes, exams, study tools, and academic discussions.

Education is a core part of daily life, and learning Chinese becomes easier when you master the words used in classrooms, study environments, and academic activities. This set is carefully curated by GuruLango to help learners build real-world vocabulary connected to schools, study habits, and learning systems.

Using Spaced Repetition, GuruLango ensures each word stays in your long-term memory by reviewing it at the optimal moment right before you forget. 

1. Educational Institution - Schools & Learning Places

Learn the names of academic institutions so you can describe where you study or work.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

学校 (noun)

xuéxiào

School

大学 (noun)

dàxué

University

高中 (noun)

gāozhōng

High school

初中 (noun)

chūzhōng

Middle school

小学 (noun)

xiǎoxué

Primary school

幼儿园 (noun)

yòu’éryuán

Kindergarten

学院 (noun)

xuéyuàn

College / Institute

实验室 (noun)

shíyànshì

Laboratory

图书馆 (noun)

túshūguǎn

Library

教室 (noun)

jiàoshì

Classroom

语言中心 (noun)

yǔyán zhōngxīn

Language center

培训班 (noun)

péixùn bān

Training course

2. Education Type - Modes & Levels of Learning

These terms help you talk about different kinds of education, from online learning to professional training.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

线上课程 (noun)

xiànshàng kèchéng

Online course

面授课 (noun)

miànshòu kè

In-person class

自学 (verb)

zìxué

Self-study

全日制 (adj.)

quán rì zhì

Full-time

兼职制 (adj.)

jiānzhí zhì

Part-time

基础教育 (noun)

jīchǔ jiàoyù

Basic education

高等教育 (noun)

gāoděng jiàoyù

Higher education

职业教育 (noun)

zhíyè jiàoyù

Vocational education

远程教育 (noun)

yuǎnchéng jiàoyù

Distance learning

成人教育 (noun)

chéngrén jiàoyù

Adult education

专业课 (noun)

zhuānyè kè

Major course

3. Learning Method - How You Study and Practice

Use these words to describe your study habits and the methods you use to learn effectively.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

复习 (verb)

fùxí

Review

预习 (verb)

yùxí

Preview

记笔记 (verb)

jì bǐjì

Take notes

阅读 (verb)

yuèdú

Read

听力练习 (noun)

tīnglì liànxí

Listening practice

口语练习 (noun)

kǒuyǔ liànxí

Speaking practice

小组讨论 (noun)

xiǎozǔ tǎolùn

Group discussion

做作业 (verb)

zuò zuòyè

Do homework

做练习 (verb)

zuò liànxí

Do exercises

记忆法 (noun)

jìyì fǎ

Memory technique

笔试 (noun)

bǐshì

Written test

朗读 (verb)

lǎngdú

Read aloud

4. Learning at School - Daily School Activities

These phrases describe what students typically do in a school environment.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

上课 (verb)

shàng kè

Attend class

下课 (verb)

xià kè

Finish class

休息 (verb)

xiūxi

Take a break

上学 (verb)

shàngxué

Go to school

放学 (verb)

fàngxué

Finish school

打扫 (verb)

dǎsǎo

Clean up

排队 (verb)

páiduì

Line up

举手 (verb)

jǔshǒu

Raise hand

回答问题 (verb)

huídá wèntí

Answer questions

做项目 (verb)

zuò xiàngmù

Do a project

查资料 (verb)

chá zīliào

Look up information

5. Facility - Rooms & School Areas

Learn the names of common school facilities you’ll encounter in any educational setting.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

操场 (noun)

cāochǎng

Playground

食堂 (noun)

shítáng

Canteen

医务室 (noun)

yīwùshì

Medical room

办公室 (noun)

bàngōngshì

Office

礼堂 (noun)

lǐtáng

Auditorium

会议室 (noun)

huìyìshì

Meeting room

宿舍 (noun)

sùshè

Dormitory

停车场 (noun)

tíngchē chǎng

Parking lot

校园 (noun)

xiàoyuán

Campus

楼梯 (noun)

lóutī

Staircase

走廊 (noun)

zǒuláng

Corridor

6. School Supply - Tools You Use for Studying

These school supplies are essential for note-taking, writing, and daily schoolwork.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

铅笔 (noun)

qiānbǐ

Pencil

钢笔 (noun)

gāngbǐ

Fountain pen

橡皮 (noun)

xiàngpí

Eraser

笔记本 (noun)

bǐjìběn

Notebook

尺子 (noun)

chǐzi

Ruler

书包 (noun)

shūbāo

Schoolbag

文件夹 (noun)

wénjiàn jiā

Folder

课本 (noun)

kèběn

Textbook

彩色笔 (noun)

cǎisè bǐ

Color markers

白板 (noun)

báibǎn

Whiteboard

订书机 (noun)

dìngshūjī

Stapler

打印机 (noun)

dǎyìnjī

Printer

7. School Title - Academic Roles & Positions

Use these terms to talk about people and positions in an academic environment.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

校长 (noun)

xiàozhǎng

Principal

老师 (noun)

lǎoshī

Teacher

学生 (noun)

xuéshēng

Student

班长 (noun)

bānzhǎng

Class leader

同学 (noun)

tóngxué

Classmate

辅导员 (noun)

fǔdǎoyuán

Advisor

助教 (noun)

zhùjiào

Teaching assistant

教授 (noun)

jiàoshòu

Professor

校医 (noun)

xiàoyī

School nurse

图书管理员 (noun)

túshū guǎnlǐyuán

Librarian

保安 (noun)

bǎo’ān

Security guard

8. Subject - Academic Subjects & Fields

These are the most common subjects you'll encounter in school and university.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

数学 (noun)

shùxué

Mathematics

中文 (noun)

Zhōngwén

Chinese

英语 (noun)

Yīngyǔ

English

物理 (noun)

wùlǐ

Physics

化学 (noun)

huàxué

Chemistry

生物 (noun)

shēngwù

Biology

历史 (noun)

lìshǐ

History

地理 (noun)

dìlǐ

Geography

美术 (noun)

měishù

Art

音乐 (noun)

yīnyuè

Music

体育 (noun)

tǐyù

P.E.

计算机 (noun)

jìsuànjī

Computer science

经济学 (noun)

jīngjìxué

Economics

9. Extracurricular Activity - After-School Interests

These words describe hobbies and activities students join outside regular classes.

Vocabulary

Pinyin

English Meaning

社团 (noun)

shètuán

Club

足球队 (noun)

zúqiú duì

Soccer team

乐队 (noun)

yuèduì

Band

舞蹈课 (noun)

wǔdǎo kè

Dance class

美术班 (noun)

měishù bān

Art class

游泳队 (noun)

yóuyǒng duì

Swimming team

志愿者活动 (noun)

zhìyuànzhě huódòng

Volunteer activity

辩论赛 (noun)

biànlùn sài

Debate competition

合唱团 (noun)

héchàng tuán

Choir

科学小组 (noun)

kēxué xiǎozǔ

Science club

阅读俱乐部 (noun)

yuèdú jùlèbù

Reading club

10. Exam & Assessment - Tests & Evaluations

These terms help you talk about tests, scores, and academic evaluations in Chinese.

Vocabulary 

Pinyin

English Meaning

考试 (noun)

kǎoshì

Exam

测验 (noun)

cèyàn

Quiz

分数 (noun)

fēnshù

Score

成绩 (noun)

chéngjì

Grade

及格 (verb)

jígé

Pass

不及格 (verb)

bù jígé

Fail

开卷考试 (noun)

kāijuàn kǎoshì

Open-book exam

闭卷考试 (noun)

bìjuàn kǎoshì

Closed-book exam

作业 (noun)

zuòyè

Homework

论文 (noun)

lùnwén

Essay / Paper

口试 (noun)

kǒushì

Oral exam

答案 (noun)

dá’àn

Answer

评分标准 (noun)

píngfēn biāozhǔn

Grading rubric

With these ten educational topics, you now have a comprehensive foundation for talking about studying, school life, and academic activities in Chinese. Continue practicing with GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition system to retain vocabulary naturally and build fluency day by day.

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